Page 5 of Almost Beautiful (Beautiful 3)

Williams chose the recliner. Gable took up most of the loveseat.

“They’re really saying he was there?” I asked.

“That you were both there, actually,” Gable said, writing something down in his notebook. “Do you still have your boarding passes?”

“Yes,” I said, standing. I made my way to the bedroom, digging into my purse for the passes and the hotel receipt. I wanted to keep them handy for when the investigators arrived to question Travis on his whereabouts. I grabbed my wedding dress on the way out. I didn’t want to leave Travis alone with the detectives any longer than I needed to.

“That was quick,” Williams said, suspicious.

“We just got back a couple hours ago,” I said. “It was all in my purse. Here,” I said, handing him the passes and the hotel receipt.

“That’s your, uh ...” Gable began, gesturing to the dress draped over my arm.

“Yes,” I said, holding it up with a proud smile. “Oh!” I said, startling Travis. I hurried down the hall again, tossing my dress onto the bed and returning to the living room with a DVD case in my hand. “Would you like to see the ceremony?”

Before either of them could answer, I popped it into the player and grabbed the remote. I sat next to Travis, snuggling next to him while we watched him stand next to the officiant, fidgeting. I kissed his cheek, then he turned to me and pressed his lips against mine.

“Okay,” Williams said, standing. His phone chimed, and he held it to his ear. “Williams. What? When? That’s bullshit, and you know it.”

Travis shot me a quick glance, but I squeezed his hand while keeping a smile on my face. I stared at the television. The recording made it easy to pretend I wasn’t focused on Williams’s every word.

Gable mouthedWhat? to his partner.

Williams shook his head. “Yes, sir. We’re here now. I understand, sir. Yes, sir.” He sighed and put his phone away, looking to Travis with an annoyed expression. “The Federal Bureau of Investigation is taking over the case. I’m sure they’ll have more questions for you.”

“The FBI?” Travis asked.

Williams frowned at his stunned partner. “Looks that way. Have a nice day, Mr. Maddox. Congratulations and good luck.”

Travis stood, bringing me with him. We watched the detectives leave, and then Travis paced.

“Trav,” I said, reaching for him. He didn’t stop to let me catch him. “Travis, stop. It’s going to be okay. I promise.”

He sat down on the couch, resting his elbows on his knees and covering his nose and mouth with his hand. His knees were bouncing, and he was breathing hard.

I was bracing myself for an outburst.

I sat next to him, touching his bulging shoulder. “We were in Vegas getting married. That’s what happened, and that’s what we’ll keep saying. You didn’t do anything wrong, Travis. It was an awful thing that happened, but I’m not going to let you go down for this.”

“Abby,” Travis said through his hands. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Did you know this was going to happen?”

I kissed his shoulder. “What do you mean?”

“That I’d need an alibi.”

My heart began to thump in my chest, banging against my ribcage. “What are you talking about?”

He turned to me with subdued fear in his eyes, already regretting the question he was about to ask. “Tell me the truth.”

I shrugged. “Okay ...”

“Did you marry me to keep me out of jail?”

I swallowed. For the first time, I was afraid my famous poker face couldn’t save me. If I admitted to creating his alibi, he wouldn’t believe me that I also married him because I loved him and wanted to be his wife. He wouldn’t believe that the only reason I would agree to be his wife as a freshman in college—at just nineteen—was because of that love. I couldn’t tell him the truth, and I didn’t want to start off our marriage with such an enormous lie.

I opened my mouth to speak, not knowing which I would choose until the words came out.

Chapter Two